Bathing cap



Feb. 11, 1930.

T. J. HOWLAND BATHING CAP Filed April 22, 1929 a M5! BY ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1930 THOMAS J. ROWLAND, LONG BRANCH, NEW JERSEY na'rmne on? Application filed. April 22,

This invention relates to bathing caps and provides for a cap which forms a watertight the cap totally ineffective for the purpose for which it is used.

The present invention provides a bathing. cap which is adapted to form awatertight seal along the edge of the cap. This is ac- "complished without excessive tightening at the edge portion, which would bind the head and cause discomfort to the wearer.

A plurality of cups or air pockets are provided around the inside edge of the cap. These are formed by ribs projecting from the cap toward the inside and adapted to contact with the head of-the wearer of'the cap. Means are provided for pressing the ribs into close engagement with the skin along the edge of the cap. The hollows or cups between the ribs tend to increase the efiectiveness oftthe seal due to the suction effect of these cups which act as vacuum cups.

The ribs which are in close engagement with the skin along the edge of the cap present a series of sealing surfaces separated by air pockets. The ingress of water or moisture is prevented therefore by a series of effective barriers.

The elasticity of the material composing the cap may be taken advantage of to press the band of ribs into close engagement with theaskin and, if desired, a chin band may be use a i There is further advantage'in placing a fluid chamber along the edge of the cap which will' ensure that the bandof ribs will be pressed into all'the irregularities of the head.

If-protruding elements are used which are adapted to fit in the most prominent irregularities of the head less pressure will be re- D quired to press the band of crossed ribs into 1929. serial N0. 353,942.

close engagement with the skin at such points.

For an example of a bathing cap embodying my invention reference is made to theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the bathing cap Fig. 2 is a cross section taken through the rim of the cap;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken through line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is a cross section taken through line 44 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a plane view, of. a section of the inside band 0 crossed ribs arranged along the edge of the cap. 1

The bathing cap 10 comprises a main por- I tion' 11 of elastic material. This main por-'" 'tion is shaped to fit the general contour of the head.

Along the inside edge of this main portion 11 is attached a band comprising a series of crossed ribs 12 forming hollows or on s 13 therebetween. In Fig. 5 a section 0 this band of crossed ribs is illustrated.

The hollows or cups 13 are shown as diamond shaped and while this particular form has beenrfound effective other forms can be used with good results; e. g., the hollows or' caps 13 may be round or s uare or oval shaped, etc. Furthermore, whi e in band of'crossed ribs 12 comprises several rows of hollows or cups 13,1 do not wish to restrict myself to the form shown, as even a single row of cups due to the suction efiect of the cups will tend to maintain the edge ofthe cap in close engagement with the skin and form a watertight seal.

The elasticity of the material composing-the main portion 11 of the cap will tend to press the crossed ribs 12 into close engagement with the skin and the cups 13 by their suction efiect will tend to maintain this en agement.

The ribs 12 should have su cient rigidity so that when stretched they will not upset and destroy the'vacuum eifect of the cups. The rigidity of the ribs 12 depends on the material of which they are formed, their width and the depth of the cups. Thefribs are more effective as sealing surfaces if they are narrow as shown in Fig. 5, but the invention is not Fig. 5 the so i limited to this form and the width of the ribs 12 need not be uniform.

As shown in the drawings the band of crossed ribs 12 consists of a separate strip 14 attached to the edge of the main portion 11 in some convenient manner, but it is'evident that the crossed ribs 12 might be formed directly in the main portion 112 The band 12 is shown as being disposed along the entire inside edge of the main portion 11 of the cap and this is the most effective arrangement. But the band may be interrupted, for instance, at the point covering the forehead, without materially aflecting the result. The shape of the head at this point is such that the edge of the cap is in such intimate contact with the skin that there is little danger of any seepage of water at this point and the gripping efiect of the ribs at other points will prevent the cap from being jerked off.

The suction effect of the cups 13 tends to maintain the engagement of the edge of the cap with the skin and will prevent the cap 'from being pulled off the head thus eliminating the necessity of a chin band. A chin band 15, however, may be attached to the outer edge of the main portion 11 to increase the pressure along the edge of the cap.

The pressure exerted on the band of crossed ribs 12 due to the elasticity of the material composing the main portion 11 may be sup plemented by providing an air or fluid chamber 18 along the outer edge of the cap. This chamber 18 is formed by attaching a strip 17 of elastic material to the outer edge of the main portion 11. The strip 17 should preferably consist of a material having less elasticity than the material comprising the main portion 11. A fluid is inserted within the chamber 18. The chamber 18 may then be permanently sealed or a valve 19 may be placed the strip 17 so that the pressure exerted by the fluid may be varied to suit the wearer. The pressure exerted by the fluid in the chamber 18 forces the crossed ribs 12 into all the irregularities of the head and presses the, crossed ribs into close engagement with the skin at all points. A bead 21 may be placed along the outsideedge to reinforce the same.

Asshown in the drawings the chamber 18 extends completely around the cap but the chamber might be arranged'to extend-only artly around the cap at such points where it would be most effective, such as at the back of the head. a-

As previously explained, if protruding elements are arranged on the cap so asto fillin the most prominent irregularities of the head less pressure will be required to press the band of crossed ribs 12 into close engagement with the skin at such points.

To this end, tapered placed between the mainportion 11 and band of crossed ribs 1 -2-at such a location that they elements 20 may be the outside edge of the cap as shown in Fig.

1 or between the main portion 11 and the band of cross ribs 12. as previously described. In either case the eii'ect of the tapered elements it to offset the chin band slightly from the cap and thereby to cause a more secure engagement of the edge of the cap below the ears when the chin band is fastened under the chin of the wearer.

While the invention has been particularly described in connection with a bathing cap which is to be applied to the head of the wearer, it is clear that the invention may be incorporated in bathing caps for enclosing other body members.

I claim: I

1. An article of bathing apparel comprising a pocket having a main portion of elastic, waterproof material, said pocket having a body-gripping edge portion, at least a portion of such edge portion being provided with cups or air pockets which, due to the elasticity of the material, contact the body of the wearer and prevent the passage of water beneath the edge of the pocket at those places, thereby rendering the pocket watertight when in use.

2. An article of bathing apparelcom-prising a pocket having a main portion of elastic, waterproof material, said pocket having a body-gripping edge portion, at least a portion of such edge portion being provided with cups or air pockets formed by ribs-projecting from the article toward the inside WhlCll, due to the elasticity of the material, contact withv the body of the wearer and prevent the passage of water beneath the edge of the pocket at those places, thereby rendering the pocket watertight when in use.

3. A bathing cap comprising a main portion of elastic, waterproof material having a body-grippin edge portion, at least i1 portion of said e ge portion being provided with cups'or air pockets formed b ribs projecting from the cap toward the insidewhich, due to the elasticity of the material, contact with the head of the wearer and prevent the passage of water beneath the edge of the cap at those places, thereby rendering the cap watertight when in use.

4. A bathing cap comprising a main portion of elastic, waterproof materialhaving "a body-gripping edge ortion, at least a portion of such edge portion being provided with cups or air pockets formed by ribs projecting from the cap toward'the .inside which, due to the elasticity of the material, contact with the head of the wearer and prevent the passage of water beneath the edge of the cap at those places, thereby rendering the cap watertight when in use, said air pockets being. arran ed so that water in tending to pass from the edge to the inner portion of the cap must traverse.

- with the head of the wearer and prevent the passage of water beneath the edge of the cap at those places, thereby rendering the cap watertight when in use, said main portion having also at certain portions of its edge projections adapted to fit into hollows in the contour of the head.

6. A bathing cap comprising a main portion of elastic, waterproof material having a body-gripping edge portion, at least. a portionof such edge portion being provided -with cups or air pockets formed by ribs proj ecting from the cap toward the inside which, due to the elasticity of the material, contact with the head of the wearer and prevent the passage of water beneath the edge of the cap at those. places, thereby rendering the cap watertight when in use, said main por-- tion having attached to it a chin strap adapted to hold said ribs more firmly in contact with the head.

7 A bathing cap comprising a main portion of elastic, waterproof material having a body-gripping edge portion, at least a portion of said edge portion being provided with cups or air pockets formed by ribs projectingfrom the cap toward the inside which, due

to the elasticity of the material, contact with the head of the wearer and prevent the passage of water beneath the edge of the cap at those places, thereby rendering the cap watertight when in use, and means for pressing said ribs into engagement with the head.

body- 'p in edge ortion at least a ortion ofiileli e g P P between which, due to the elasticity of the material, contact with the head of the. wearer and prevent the passage of water beneath the edge of the cap at those places, thereby rendering the cap watertight when in use.

10. A bathing cap comprising a main portion of elastic, waterproof material having a body-gripping edge portion, at least a portion 0 such edge portion being provided with a series of crossed ribs forming cups therebetween which, due to the elasticity of the material, contact with the head of the wearer and prevent the passage of water beneath rendering the cap watertight when in use,

tapered projections adapted to fill in irregularities of the head and means for pressing said crossed ribs and said tapered projections into close engagement with the skin.

"12. A bathing cap as described in claim 10 which comprises afluid chamber arranged along the outside edge of the cap adapted to press the edges of said cap into close engagement with the skin.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS J. HOWLAND.

8. A bathing cap comprising a main por- 4 tion of elastic, waterproof material having a body-gripping edge portion, at least a portion 0 said edge portion being provided with cups or air pockets formed by ribs projecting from the cap toward the inside which, due to the elasticity of the material, contact with the head of thewearer and revent the passage of water beneath the e ge of the cap at those places, thereby rendering the cap watertight when in use, said main portion having also at certain portions of its edge projections adapted to fit into hollows in the contour of the head, and a fluid chamber arranged along the outside edge of said main portion adapted to press said ribs into close engagement with the head.

9. A bathing cap comprising a main pox tion of elastic, waterproof material having a e portion being PIOVidel with a ser1es of crossed ribs forming cups there-.

the edge of the-cap at those places, thereby 

